Powerlifting, a paralympic sport

[5kgLifter]

I recall reading that bodybuilding differed to other sports because there was no dynamic movement to be judged. I realise that sports such as diving, gymnastics etc are judged on their aesthetics of movement and points are deducted for a slip/fault but bodybuilding has no dynamic aspect when being viewed; powerlifting, on the other hand, obviously does.

[Tannhauser]

Disclaimer: I have no idea how selecting new sports for the olympics works.

I do wonder if powerlifting has an image problem. I know powerlifting competitions vary greatly from fed to fed and venue to venue, but to my mind some competitions I see on video do not look much like legitimate athletic competitions. I'm thinking about those contests where there is heavy metal blaring in the background as a 300lb guy waddles out in his suit and knee supports and proceeds to dip his knees by about 5" with 1100 lbs on his back, with another bunch of 300lb goateed guys screaming and hollering their approval.

I'm not mocking this - just pointing out that meets can sometimes look more like a cross between a monster truck pull and pro-wrestling than a sport. I wonder what impression this would leave on an IOC judge. And then if that is what powerlifting seems to be about, why not choose arm-wrestling or parkour or other fringe-y endeavours?

[Tannhauser]

Originally Posted by 5kgLifter

I recall reading that bodybuilding differed to other sports because there was no dynamic movement to be judged. I realise that sports such as diving, gymnastics etc are judged on their aesthetics of movement and points are deducted for a slip/fault but bodybuilding has no dynamic aspect when being viewed; powerlifting, on the other hand, obviously does.

Yeah, I agree with that view. Of course posing is hard work, but you're not being judged on the movements, just on appearance. A bit like someone wanting to add a show car event in NASCAR or Formula One.

I can't see bodybuilding getting into the Olympics. Ben Weider tried for about 400 years and never got beyond the Asian Games.

[5kgLifter]

The other thing is, which I've often wondered, how many sports can the Olympic games really sustain? With new events being shown at quite a few of them, or is that every Olympics (??) there has to come a point where a sport has to be dropped for another one to be accepted.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Tannhauser

I do wonder if powerlifting has an image problem. I know powerlifting competitions vary greatly from fed to fed and venue to venue, but to my mind some competitions I see on video do not look much like legitimate athletic competitions. I'm thinking about those contests where there is heavy metal blaring in the background as a 300lb guy waddles out in his suit and knee supports and proceeds to dip his knees by about 5" with 1100 lbs on his back, with another bunch of 300lb goateed guys screaming and hollering their approval.

Could be. Unfortunately, 95% of meets don't resemble that at all (as I'm sure you're aware). They are lucky to have more than one 275+ lifter. But perception is greater than reality. Just look at bodybuilding. Everyone perceives the NPC to have quality, packed, competition filled events, while they generally view natural bodybuilding as...huh, people actually do that? It's a sport?

Most of the natural bodybuilding contests I've been to were jam packed, well run, 2 day events bursting from the seems with passion, professionalism and competitors. On the other hand, I've seen NPC shows with 20 competitors, poorly run, and that did nothing for the sport at all but make it look like a fringe freak show.

I think both bodybuilding and powerlifting have perception problems, but the Internet is helping to change that.

[Tannhauser]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Could be. Unfortunately, 95% of meets don't resemble that at all (as I'm sure you're aware).

Yes I agree - and certainly, the meets I've attended/competed in haven't been like that. It's just that sometimes, in the attempt to make meets a bit more high-octane and entertaining, some meets - maybe only a few - end up looking ridiculous, at least to my eyes. You can't imagine a cycling or gymnastics event having that sort of feel, even at a local level.

[BendtheBar]

I've definitely not a fan of the multiply, 5 inch hip sink squat meets. That does nothing for me, no disrespect meant.

[RobMoriRB]

IMO, if we were aloud to do one Olympic show; they would see how much people care for it. I know we have a WPC, but its not the same to represent your country on there pay instead of taking it out of your pocket.
I believe that if the Olympics did allow Power Lifting in they should have different categories like the really meets have.(i.e Single Ply only, Double Ply Only Raw Only and ect.)

[J_Byrd]

I thought the IPF was in the trail stages with the olympic group as a sport. I think if it is ever in, it will be raw, or at most single ply.

[Fazc]

Originally Posted by J_Byrd

I thought the IPF was in the trail stages with the olympic group as a sport. I think if it is ever in, it will be raw, or at most single ply.

I haven't heard J, they could be.

As I say the Olympics have given the nod for their name and slogan to be used for some British Strongman comps so that's a pretty strong nod in that direction too.